ALINA offers an unusually pure distillation of Arvo Pärt's mature music, distinguished by what the composer refers to as the 'tintinnabuli style' in which simple scalar melodic phrases are suspended over slowly repeated triadic arpeggios to create a timeless sense of enfolding movement. The disc itself has an enfolding structure--three performances of 'Spiegel im Spiegel' (Mirror in Mirror) are separated by two performances of 'Für Alina'--creating a hall of mirrors to mimic the symmetry of the music, and giving the proceedings as a whole a potent and sustained atmosphere of meditative ritual. As the central performance of 'Spiegel' is of a version for cello, the overall form of the ritual is ABCBA, a perfect arch through which to see theRead more delicate geometry within. This is a notable case of programming in which the whole is made much greater than the sum of its parts. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Spiegel im Spiegelby Arvo Pärt Performer:
Vladimir Spivakov (Violin),
Sergei Berzodny (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1978; USSR Date of Recording: 07/1995 Venue: Festeburgkirche, Frankfurt, Germany Length: 9 Minutes 48 Secs.
2.
Für Alinaby Arvo Pärt Performer:
Dietmar Schwalke (Cello),
Alexander Malter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1976; Estonia Date of Recording: 07/1995 Venue: Festeburgkirche, Frankfurt, Germany Length: 10 Minutes 53 Secs.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: ( 2 Customer Reviews )
absolutely beautifulSeptember 16, 2015By joan g. (carle place, NY)See All My Reviews"Hauntingly beautify music with soothing and calming affect on your soul. Purchase and enjoy as I have many times- you won't be disappointed."Report Abuse
Sublime musicJanuary 10, 2013By K. Kreiger (Santa Monica, CA)See All My Reviews"This sublime recording was initially suggested by a friend who said, "If everyone in the world had to listen to this every day, there would be no more wars." It is open and quiet. The harmonies are simple and penetrating. I often start with the second track - Fur Alina - as I'm so hungry to hear it and then listen to the end. More listeners in our home have asked for the particulars of this music than any other."Report Abuse